Informacion

In training, we talked about the difficulties in dealing with problems in a fatalistic culture.  Things are expected to not work. Examples: The power and water are expected to be out, the mail system doesn´t actually deliver mail to houses, and microwaves are used for storage.  If you say you are going to do something, or ask someone to do something, a likely response is “si dios quiere,” if god wants it—if it happens, it happens.

These seem to be accepted things; however, when it comes to technology, people are rather activistic. Cell phone adoption was explosive, phones are expected to work, and they depend on them heavily. Many play MP3s, take pictures, and have games.  Everyone has a TV with cable, whether the feed is legit or not.  These things aren’t luxuries anymore, and while TV is a passive medium, they show a remarkable affinity for integration of technology into the home.

The number of people with computers is low, and the number with internet connections is even lower.  Interest in internet is high, but daily utility isn´t—even if it were ubiquitous, few would be able to make use of it. Computer education is greatly lacking, and there is a lot to be done to increase internet literacy (the ability to find reliable, trustworthy information sources online). There are more pressing matters, but recognition of the importance of access to information is growing, especially as it relates to developmental matters.

Secretary Clinton made the case for the right to open and free information access through an open internet.  This makes sense for industrialized nations, but what about the global south? The internet as a commodity needs an established user base, which requires easy access and access to education.  Treating the internet as central to free thought and open societies may be overlooking its popularity as a porn clearing house and meme generator, but it certainly piques my interest. 

We are in the DR to build technical capacity and give people access to the tools they need to positively impact their living situations.  With the perspective that access to information is a right, and that establishing a base is the first step to transforming information technology in the developing world from a novelty to a development tool, it is shocking to suddenly realize that dependable networks and infrastructure depend on the profit incentives of utility companies to supply 24hr electricity.

Power (energy) is a problem. While power (hegemony) and the free flow of information have seldom enjoyed a healthy working relationship (and the First Lady’s network of labs is likely linked to her political aspirations), national and local  infrastructure is central to any progress.

The DR´s temporary fix to long-term systemic energy problems is to rely on power invertors and banks of car batteries and solar panels, which is yet another example of rejecting fatalism with regards to technology.  However, when 42% of the population is living in poverty, and there are only about 8 different keys that open the majority of all locks (Globo locks, WTF), batteries can be a very very temporary fix.

The most successful example of computer networking in this city is among the gambling houses, the bancas.  The whole town is blanketed by their wi-fi signal, which links the bancas together to tabulate and set odds.  If private businesses can do it to gamble, public institutions should be able to do it for information access (or maybe there is a combination of the two…).